Calendula plant named &#39;kercaldiva&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Calendula plant named ‘Kercaldiva’, characterized by its compact, upright to outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; dense and bushy appearance; freely and continuously flowering habit; long flowering period; large double and semi-double type inflorescences with bright orange-colored ray florets; and good container and landscape performance.

Botanical designation: Calendula hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘KERCALDIVA’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofCalendula plant, botanically known as Calendula hybrida and hereinafterreferred to by the name ‘Kercaldiva’.

The new Calendula plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventors in Cambridge, United Kingdom. The objectiveof the breeding program is to create new uniform Calendula plants thatflower continuously for a long period of time and have good containerand landscape performance.

The new Calendula plant originated from a cross-pollination of aproprietary selection of Calendula hybrida identified as code number11-67-5, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietaryselection of Calendula hybrida identified as code number 11-67-8, notpatented, as the male, or pollen, parent in 2011. The new Calendulaplant was discovered and selected by the Inventors as a single floweringplant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in acontrolled greenhouse environment in Cambridge, United Kingdom in July,2012.

Asexual reproduction of the new Calendula plant by vegetative tipcuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Cambridge, UnitedKingdom since August, 2012 has shown that the unique features of thisnew Calendula plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Calendula have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of the new Calendula. Thesecharacteristics in combination distinguish ‘Kercaldiva’ as a new anddistinct Calendula plant:

-   -   1. Compact, upright to outwardly spreading and mounding plant        habit.    -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Freely branching habit; dense and bushy appearance.    -   4. Freely and continuously flowering habit    -   5. Long flowering period.    -   6. Large double and semi-double type inflorescences with bright        orange-colored ray florets.    -   7. Good container and landscape performance.

Plants of the new Calendula differ primarily from plants of the femaleparent selection in inflorescence form as plants of the female parentselection have single-type inflorescences.

Plants of the new Calendula differ primarily from plants of the maleparent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calendula are more freely branching than        plants of the male parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Calendula and the male parent selection        differ in inflorescence form as plants of the male parent        selection have single-type inflorescences.    -   3. Ray florets of plants of the new Calendula resist fading        whereas ray florets of plants of the male parent selection fade        to yellow with development.

Plants of the new Calendula can be compared to plants of Calendulaofficinalis ‘Cheers Orange’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons,plants of the new Calendula differ primarily from plants of ‘CheersOrange’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calendula are more outwardly spreading than        and not as upright as plants of ‘Cheers Orange’.    -   2. Plants of the new Calendula have larger inflorescences than        plants of ‘Cheers Orange’.    -   3. Plants of the new Calendula and ‘Cheers Orange’ differ in        inflorescence form as plants of ‘Cheers Orange’ have semi-double        and single-type inflorescences.    -   4. Ray florets of plants of the new Calendula are darker orange        in color than ray florets of plants of ‘Cheers Orange’.

Plants of the new Calendula also can be compared to plants of Calendulaofficinalis ‘20123-107D’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 26,804. Inside-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Calendula differ primarilyfrom plants of ‘20123-107D’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calendula are more freely branching than        plants of ‘20123-107D’.    -   2. Plants of the new Calendula have shorter leaves than plants        of ‘20123-107D’.    -   3. Plants of the new Calendula are more freely flowering than        plants of ‘20123-107D’.    -   4. Plants of the new Calendula are more tolerant to Powdery        Mildew than plants of ‘20123-107D’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Calendula plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Calendula plant.

The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of atypical flowering plant of ‘Kercaldiva’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typicalflowering plant of ‘Kercaldiva’.

The photograph on the third sheet is a side-by-side perspective view ofa typical flowering plant of ‘Kercaldiva’ (left) and a typical floweringplant of ‘Cheers Orange’ (right).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown during the spring in 11.5-litercontainers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Cambridge, United Kingdomand under cultural practices typical of commercial Calendula production.Plants were ten weeks from planting rooted cuttings when the photographsand description were taken. In the following description, colorreferences are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart,2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Calendula hybrida ‘Kercaldiva’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Calendula            hybrida identified as code number 11-67-5, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Calendula            hybrida identified as code number 11-67-8, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative tip cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About seven days at soil            temperatures about 21° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About ten days at soil            temperatures about 18° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three            weeks at soil temperatures about 21° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four            weeks at soil temperatures about 18° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically            white in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on            substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and            formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of            roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact, upright to somewhat            outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit; moderately            vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching habit with about three to            four main stems each main stem with about three to four            lateral branches; dense and bushy appearance.        -   Plant height.—About 19 cm.        -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 31 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 21 cm. Diameter: About 8 mm.            Internode length: About 4 cm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: Main            stems, mostly upright; lateral stems about 45° from main            stems. Texture and luster: Slightly pubescent; matte. Color:            Close to 146B to 146C.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple; sessile.        -   Length.—About 11 cm.        -   Width.—About 4.5 cm.        -   Shape.—Oblanceolate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Truncate.        -   Margin.—Sinuate.        -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth,            glabrous; matte.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 146A.            Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 146B. Fully            expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 147A; venation,            close to 146B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close            to 147B; venation, close to 146C.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Appearance.—Double and semi-double type inflorescences            developing on terminal and axillary peduncles; double-type            inflorescences with numerous ray florets and none to a few            disc florets; semi-double type inflorescences with numerous            ray florets and a significant number of disc florets;            inflorescences positioned on moderately strong peduncles;            inflorescences face mostly upright to outwardly.        -   Flowering habit.—Freely flowering habit numerous            inflorescences develop during the flowering season; strongly            floriferous.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Flowering response.—Early flowering habit, plants begin            flowering about five weeks after planting.        -   Natural flowering season.—Long flowering period, plants            flower continuously from spring until frost in temperate            regions.        -   Inflorescence longevity.—Depending on actual temperature,            inflorescences last about seven to ten days on the plant;            inflorescences persistent.        -   Inflorescence buds.—Height: About 1.2 cm. Diameter: About            1.5 cm. Shape: Ovate. Texture and luster: Slightly            pubescent; matte. Color: Close to 146A; distally, close to            24A and 172A.        -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 7 cm. Height (depth):            About 3 cm. Disc diameter (semi-double inflorescences):            About 1 cm.        -   Receptacles.—Receptacle diameter: About 1.3 cm. Receptacle            height: About 5 mm. Receptacle color: Close to 144B.        -   Ray florets.—Number of ray florets per inflorescence, double            inflorescences: About 133 arranged in about six whorls.            Number of ray florets per inflorescence, semi-double            inflorescences: About 62 arranged in about three to four            whorls. Length: About 3.1 cm. Width: About 5 mm. Shape:            Oblanceolate. Apex: Praemorse. Base: Narrowly cuneate.            Margin: Entire. Aspect: Mostly horizontal, apices weakly            reflexing with development. Texture and luster, upper            surface: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Texture and luster, lower            surface: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: When opening, upper            surface: Close to 24A; at the apices, tinted with close to            172A. When opening, lower surface: Towards the apex, close            to 23A, at the apices, overlain with close to 172B; towards            the base, close to 12A. Fully opened, upper surface: Close            to 24A; towards the base, tinted with close to 15A;            venation, similar to lamina; color does not fade with            development. Fully opened, lower surface: Towards the apex,            close to 23A, at the apices, overlain with close to 172B;            towards the base, close to 12B; color does not fade with            development.        -   Disc florets.—Number of disc florets per inflorescence:            Double-type inflorescences have none to about six;            semi-double inflorescences have about 86 to 92 arranged in            about five whorls at the center of the receptacle. Length:            About 4 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Shape: Tubular, slender;            apex, five-pointed. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous;            matte. Color: Close to 178A.        -   Phyllaries.—Quantity per inflorescence and arrangement:            About 23 arranged in two whorls. Length: About 1 cm. Width:            About 2 mm. Shape: Narrowly deltoid. Apex: Acute. Base:            Truncate. Margin: Entire. Aspect: When opening, mostly            upright; open inflorescences, mostly horizontal. Texture and            luster, upper surface: Slightly pubescent; glossy. Texture            and luster, lower surface: Slightly pubescent; matte. Color,            upper surface: Close to 146A. Color, lower surface: Close to            146A; at the apices, overlain with close to 178A.        -   Peduncles.—Length, terminal peduncle: About 2.2 cm.            Diameter, terminal peduncle: About 3 mm. Strength:            Moderately strong. Aspect: Initially upright, outwardly            bending with development. Texture and luster: Slightly            pubescent; matte. Color: Close to 144A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium (present on disc florets            only): Quantity per floret: Four. Filament length: About            1 mm. Filament color: Close to 164C. Anther shape:            Lanceolate. Anther length: About 1 mm to 2 mm. Anther color:            Close to 172D. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close            to 26A. Gynoecium (present on ray and disc florets):            Quantity per disc floret: One. Pistil length: About 4 mm.            Style length: About 2 mm. Style color: Close to 15A. Stigma            shape: Bi-parted. Stigma color: Close to 178A. Ovary color:            Close to 144C.        -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit development have not been            observed on plants of the new Calendula to date.-   Disease & pest tolerance: Plants of the new Calendula have been    observed to be somewhat tolerant to Powdery Mildew (Golovinomyces    cichoracearum). Plants of the new Calendula have not been shown to    be tolerant to pests and other pathogens common to Calendula plants.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Calendula have been observed    to have good garden performance and to tolerate temperatures from    about −5° C. to about 40° C. and are suitable for USDA Hardiness    Zones 10 and 11.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Calendula plant named ‘Kercaldiva’ as illustrated and described. 